I am convening the African Leaders Forum on Disability in partnership with Special Olympics so that a marginalized population long unrecognized does not remain in the shadows. I consider this a critical, moral and practical challenge.

From politics to entertainment, philanthropy to fashion, there were a great number of defining moments this year that advanced the women's agenda and put the needs and rights of women and girls firmly on the map.

I write about the hatred of LGBT people in Eastern Europe by religious and governmental authorities. I write about Jamaica where hating gays is a popular topic for music lyrics and where murders are escalating. Pride and persecution are both real. We rejoice in the good and confront the evil.

Women are at the center of our world's development. Women are the mothers who bear and care for children, and they play an important economic role. Empowering women is key to boosting the well-being of many rural societies.